Nairo Quintana renews until 2019 as Movistar extends sponsorship deal
Nairo Quintana renews his contract until the end of the 2019 season with Movistar, who will continue as title sponsors throughout the same period
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Nairo Quintana and Movistar will continue their partnership until at least 2019 after both rider and sponsor signed extensions with the Spanish team.
Quintana, fresh from winning the Vuelta a España, and teammate Alejandro Valverde appeared at a press conference on Monday morning to announce they had both agreed new deals, with the Spaniard's due to be signed in the coming days.
Title sponsor Movistar, part of the Spanish telecommunication giants Telefonica, also renewed its partnership with Abarca Sports to ensure the team continues to wear the big green M on their jersey for the next three seasons.
“We’ve got the best team in the world at the moment,” said Telefonica's Carlos López Blanco. “The sporting results can hardly be better; our brand exposure and positioning are excellent all over the world, especially in Spain and Latin America, essential markets for Telefónica; and above everything else, this team represents bond and friendliness like no other.
Adding: "Enjoying results like this Vuelta win by Nairo Quintana is sensational. We’ve got tremendous confidence on the future of the team and our collaboration with them.”
Since joining as title sponsors in 2011, Telefonica has seen the Movistar team win three consecutive UCI WorldTour titles between 2013 and 2015. The Spanish squad are on course to win their fourth, leading the 2016 WorldTour with three events remaining.
Quintana has now won two Grand Tours, taking the Giro d'Italia title in 2014 and the Vuelta crown this year. He also has three podium finishes at the Tour de France, finishing runner up to Chris Froome in both 2013 and 2015.
Valverde, meanwhile, has nine top-10 finishes in Grand Tours since Movistar started sponsorship as well as winning five major one-day Classics since 2011.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Jess Roberts doubles up at British Track Championships as 19 year-old sprinter topples Olympian
Comeback queen wins her first solo national title in the scratch race
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
Extinction Rebellion stages anti-Shell protest at British Track Champs
Two people carried a banner through the stands at Newport's Geraint Thomas National Velodrome
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Where next for Nairo Quintana? Colombian claims he'll still be at WorldTour races
Bahrain-Victorious say no, Movistar are full, Astana-Qazaqstan and AG2R-Citroën have already denied interest
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Nairo Quintana’s Tour de France tramadol disqualification upheld
CAS uphold the UCI decision to disqualify the Colombian after painkiller detected in blood tests
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
Movistar quick to quash Mark Cavendish signing report
Italian press speculation over future of sprinter denied by Spanish team
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Changing of the guard: Seven top cyclists who have retired in 2022
Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde and Tom Dumoulin have all called time on their careers this year
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Nairo Quintana to leave Arkéa-Samsic, six weeks after signing new contract
The Colombian is currently appealing his Tour de France disqualification
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Van Vleuten confirms her superiority with Ceratizit Challenge GC victory
Elisa Balsamo takes the final stage bunch kick on the Madrid circuit after consummate work from Trek-Segafredo
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Silvia Persico takes Ceratizit Challenge stage victory after a tense aggressive final
Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer comes close to pulling off a repeat of her Tokyo triumph with a 158km solo break
By Owen Rogers • Published